Available, Aware, and Outward

A.A.O = Available, Aware, and Outward

These are three things I pray I chose and am, whenever I am in public or with others. So many times we think missions is overseas (which yes, go overseas...) but if you are truly a missionary (which if you are a Christian, you are called to be a missionary) than you should have a life that shows it both in the third world and in the states or wherever you are!

This is something I learned right away when I started doing mission work. I was on fire and pumped to talk to people about Jesus when I went overseas but when I came home I was annoyed, bitter, and tired of people. The Lord quickly revealed to me that there are so many people in need of Him right under my nose and that it doesn't always look the same as the third world, but it is still mission work.

Here is what I have learned:

1. Be Available - Put your phone away. Seriously. Put it in your purse or your pocket and don't always pull it out when you need to "do something" or be entertained. When you are available, God will use you. When you are available to people, they will talk to you. I recently went to Disneyland with some friends and we pretty much never looked at our phones. Usually I am non-stop taking pictures and in a 30 person group chat, but the friends I was with were not attached to their phones and it encouraged me to not be as well. Not only did we get to talk to lots of people in line and while we were waiting but we got to be more intentional in getting to know each other as well. Put your phone away. Put the ringer up if someone needs to reach you, but for the most part... put it away.

2. Aware - Be aware of who is around you, what the Spirit is speaking, and how you are feeling. Lots of people hate on feelings in Christianity, I use to be one of them. I thought feelings were the enemy and we shouldn't listen to them, etc. But then the Lord taught me that it is ok to have feelings (go figure... He gave them to us) but to make sure that they pass this little test. "If your feelings agree with God's Word, enjoy them. If they disagree with God's Word, ignore them."Just be aware of how you feel. Sometimes I will feel a strong sense from the Lord to go pray for someone and the best advice I can give you is to respond! Obey when you feel those urges. Be bold and trust the Lord's voice and leading.

3. Outward - Always be outward focused. I know I am constantly trying to look outward, look to Jesus and others before myself. And yeah, it's tough. But whenever I am more focused on blessing others with the joy and love of Christ, I am refreshed as well. So instead of again, being on your phone or having your headphones in and your head down all the time, be smiling and engaging with people. Don't be afraid to start a conversation. You never know when someone is going to respond to your willingness to listen, pray, and speak the love of Christ! This is something I constantly struggle with. When I am out running errands I am very much so a get it done, get in the car, and go do something else type of person (I can't stand running errands haha). BUT I must chose joy! I must put on Christ. Some people think that is "faking it"and I say, so be it! I will fake it till I make it. I will chose joy even when I don't feel it so that someone can see Christ for maybe the first time! My feelings aren't always going to line up with truth, and when that happens... truth trumps all. I have the joy of salvation! It is a fact that salvation is joy. May I always share that joy, even when I am buying toiletries at Target or groceries at Trader Joe's

May this post encourage you and compel you to always chose joy, even when you are in the states doing day to day mundane things. Jesus never said you are only called to represent Him overseas... We are ambassadors of the Gospel wherever we are. We have His life in us at all times and His Word in our hearts, may we never withhold the greatest gift of all... the gift of abundant life in Him.

In Him,

Lindsay 

The Third World Girl